PRESENTATION

Ten years ago, AFD, the École Normale Supérieure and Carbone 4 launched a first MOOC on the energy transitions in developing countries. Based on that initial experience, AFD has now released a new MOOC focusing on the need to accelerate these transitions in emerging and developing countries in line with the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Faced with the climate emergency, we have a twofold challenge to overcome: reducing our dependency on fossil fuels while guaranteeing universal, reliable and affordable access to energy.
This MOOC demonstrates that it is possible to reconcile these imperatives, while emphasising that each national context requires a specific approach.
Week after week, you will explore current and future trends, as well as the role of technical innovation and public policies in the transformation of energy systems – a transition that will only succeed by fully taking into account issues surrounding social justice.

At the end of this course, you will better understand how energy choices influence development trajectories, the key figures by energy source and by sector, and the different technical, financial and organisational solutions to accelerate the transitions, taking into account the contexts encountered.

Designed as a call for mobilisation and action, this MOOC brings together a network of experts from the sector to share the concrete solutions and inspiring initiatives emerging across the world, in both the Global North and the Global South.

WHO IS THIS MOOC FOR?

This MOOC is designed for a broad range of actors from various backgrounds: political decision–makers and civil servants, elected officials and technicians in local authorities, business managers and actors in civil society, those working in international organisations, experts, teachers and students and, more broadly, all citizens concerned by issues surrounding the energy transition, in both the Global North and the Global South.

TRAINING PROGRAMME:

The content of each chapter will be released successively, at the rate of one chapter per week, from 22 September 2025. You will then be able to complete the MOOC in tutored mode (access to interactive discussion forums) until 2 November 2025. After this date, the content will remain freely accessible.

The MOOC is structured around the following themes:

TEACHING METHODS

In each module, you will find:

• themed videos by experts on the topics addressed,
• video testimonials of players in the field, presenting feedback and case studies,
• interactive modules,
• charts and graphics,
• interactive learning activities,
• additional resources for further information,
• quizzes to check your retention of key information.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

At the end of each module, you can test your knowledge with a final quiz (and resulting score) per module.

• A badge will be awarded for each module if you score 80% on the quiz for the module concerned.
• A certificate of completion, issued by AFD, will be available at the end of the course if you obtain an overall score of 70% for the entire course.

WHO ARE THE PROJECT PARTNERS?

L'Agence Française de Développement (AFD) implements French policy as regards development and international solidarity. Within AFD, the Energy Unit is responsible for appraising and monitoring AFD’s contribution to the acceleration of energy transitions in the areas in which it intervenes in Africa, Asia, Latin America and in the French overseas regions. The energy strategy of AFD aims to strengthen the alignment of energy transitions with the “100% Paris Agreement compatibility” commitments. Located in Paris and Marseille, the AFD Group Campus is the training centre of Agence Française de Développement dedicated to building common knowledge, sharing experience and acquiring the necessary skills for designing and implementing policies and projects having a significant impact on transitions in the Global South.

IS MY DEVICE SUITABLE?

You can follow the MOOC on a computer, a tablet or a smartphone. Simply use your Internet browser. For best results, use Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari or their mobile versions. Internet Explorer users will require a version higher than IE 10.